Malta’s Tax Residence And Retirement Programmes: Significant Changes Effective 1 January 2027

Malta has consolidated its special tax status schemes into a single framework effective January 2027, offering four distinct categories for foreign residents. Each category provides a flat 15% tax rate on foreign-source income remitted to Malta, with varying minimum annual tax obligations and eligibility requirements based on nationality and income source.

Malta's remittance basis of taxation offers favorable treatment for individuals who are resident but not domiciled in Malta, taxing foreign-source income only when received in Malta while exempting foreign capital gains entirely.

Malta’s new Individual Tax Programme Rules will come into force on 1 January 2027, consolidating four existing residency programmes into a single framework. The rules retain the 15% tax rate on qualifying foreign-source income remitted to Malta but increase minimum tax thresholds, property requirements and application fees.

Malta has introduced a new Individual Tax Programme consolidating its existing residence schemes into a single framework effective January 2027. While maintaining the attractive 15% tax rate on foreign-source income, the programme introduces significantly higher economic thresholds and a five-year renewable status model, signaling a shift toward attracting genuine long-term residents willing to make substantial contributions to the Maltese economy.

Malta's personal income tax system is grounded in progressive rates that apply to an individual's chargeable income, that is, total income after deductions, exemptions, and allowances. For the 2026 basis year...

Malta is consolidating its four existing tax programmes into a unified Individual Tax Programme framework, effective January 2027. The new rules introduce significantly higher annual tax thresholds, increased property requirements, and stricter application fees while maintaining the attractive 15% flat tax rate on foreign-sourced income remitted to Malta.

The standard corporate tax rate applicable to companies registered in Malta is 35% and there are no thresholds for reduced rates of taxation applicable.

Malta is consolidating its special tax programmes into a unified Individual Tax Programme effective January 2027, maintaining the attractive 15% flat tax rate on qualifying foreign-source income while substantially raising financial thresholds and property requirements.

The Government of Malta has published Legal Notice 188 of 2025 – the Final Income Tax Without Imputation Regulations, 2025, in relation to Article 22B of the Income Tax Act. Such legal notice provides companies and certain trusts with the option to elect for a final tax rate in lieu of the imputation system, that has long characterised Malta's corporate tax regime.

Malta has concluded over 80 double tax treaties with major trading partners worldwide to eliminate double taxation on both passive and active income.